Wilderness challenge programs help develop a sense of community, improve one\’s confidence, boost an individual\’s dependability, reduce recidivism, and give attendees an outlet to discuss troubles and development.

You\’ve probably come across wilderness challenge programs featured on talk shows as well as in published articles, and several television networks even recreate this sort of challenge for primetime viewing. Wilderness Programs have become the subject of varying reviews since the time they were first launched. Wilderness challenge programs are also referred to as adventure therapy, and are usually intended to help young adults and preteens who are perceived as at risk. Below are a few of the effects that you can expect from adventure therapy:

Develop a sense of community

Numerous wilderness programs are built around the concept of building a sense of community amongst members. A lot of at-risk teenagers are going through a time in their personal lives in which they feel a strong sense of isolation, and this feeling can be at times very negative. Adventure therapy programs are geared towards providing young people a sense of stability by being a part of a good and encouraging group. Team-building excursions are standard routines used in accomplishing this goal.

Improve self-esteem

One of many principal objectives of adventure therapy is to improve the self-esteem of its attendees. It relies on the idea that if young people possess personal respect, they\’re unlikely to do something dangerous and unpleasant. Activities included in the courses that focus on establishing self-esteem include the rope challenge. Rope challenges use numerous paraphernalia made up of ropes, such as links, walkways and ladders, which are hung up on trees. Additionally, there are safety nets assembled, yet the principal purpose for participants would be to overcome their anxieties by going through the whole obstacle course. A similar and more familiar activity is rock climbing.

Boost the participant\’s personal sense of responsibility

Another goal that wilderness challenges work toward is an increased sense of responsibility. During the course of the entire program, participants are given several duties and roles that will have an effect to the team in general. The improvement of participants is honored and given due recognition. Rewards can be intangible, such as more freedom, or tangible, which include certificates along with other items.

Reduce recidivism

Recidivism is defined as the rate that people go back to incarceration. Adventure therapy programs seek to lessen recidivism of its attendees. Studies have shown that individuals who engaged in adventure therapy had recidivism rate down to 29% while individuals who were not able to join had an increased rate of 37%. Although the gap between 29% and 37% may not necessarily be interpreted as good results, it does illustrate an objective development for wilderness challenge participants.

Offer participants a means to share problems and growth

Many wilderness programs integrate talk therapy. Talk therapy is a great method for determining the progress of the program, how successful it is and how it influenced the participants. Facilitators involved in talk therapy help young people understand how the courses are influencing them. Additionally, it gives individuals a positive atmosphere in which they can voice out any difficulties and concerns that they are going through.

Wilderness challenge programs vary in length, but all of them incorporate the essential components of personal responsibility and community involvement.

Author Bio: Written by Douglas R. Williams. Further information about Wilderness Programs is available at http://wildernessprogramsetc.com/

Category: Society
Keywords: Wilderness Programs,Wilderness Program,wilderness programs for teens,teen wilderness programs